Hidden Valley Ranch draws in Gen Z home cooks with NYC pop-up
Turning real estate constraints into real brand estate
Snacks
The ‘radically simple’ sweet snack revolution that’s getting juicy
Sweet snack trends are tilting toward simpler, fruit-forward formulations – and Solely’s approach is drawing fresh attention from retailers
Smucker’s Sweet Baked Snacks take a hit as Hostess reset bites into Q2
The J.M. Smucker Co.’s latest results show a business broadly on track, but its Sweet Baked Snacks segment is clearly in the painful middle of a reset
Hershey’s salty strategy
The confectionery giant’s latest move – snapping up LesserEvil – pulls it deeper into the everyday snacking landscape it’s been circling for years
What’s popular this Thanksgiving? Brining, baking and brand buzz
From budget-friendly feasts to playful twists, brands are blending affordability, nostalgia and creativity to win over holiday hosts
Top 5 F&B ingredients trends driving market growth towards $560bn
The global food and beverage ingredients market is booming. But what are the trends powering industry growth?
Biscuits, cookies & crackers: What’s trending now and into 2026
Premium treats, grab-and-go minis and a burst of festive innovation are giving the aisle more energy than it’s had in years
Cocoa’s gone wild: Could malted barley flour be the calm in the chaos?
With cocoa costs spiraling, Briess is pitching malted barley flour as a reliable, clean label lifeline for bakers and snack makers
Beauty from within: How functional foods are blurring the line between skincare and nutrition
As the beauty-from-within movement gains momentum, food and beverage brands are turning to collagen, antioxidants and other functional ingredients to deliver skincare benefits from the inside out
Emulsifiers in food and beverage: Market growth and health risks
New research linking omnipresent emulsifiers to gut damage and obesity is raising tough questions for manufacturers
UPFs surge unevenly across global markets - where’s next?
Ultra-processed diets aren’t equally dominant worldwide - but in some countries, they’re rising fast
Middle East Focus: Food sector AI, coconut nectar, trout and more
Food sector AI, coconut nectar, trout and more feature in this edition of Middle East Focus
Ultra-processed foods: 5 biggest implications from Lancet study
The landmark study series is the biggest blow yet to UPFs
Opinion
The snackdown: The Lancet just declared war on UPFs
The Lancet’s new UPF Series doesn’t politely enter the UPF debate – it kicks the door open and bakery and snacks are suddenly standing in the blast zone
AI platform Keychain raises $10M to help retailers speed private-label product launches
The funding backs Keychain360, a new operating system designed to cut product launch time by up to 30% and streamline sourcing, compliance and vendor management for retailers
Cost discipline drives growth: How Conagra, General Mills and Celsius are navigating inflation and tariffs
Targeted pricing, selective promotions and strategic investments help brands protect margins and capture share in a high-cost environment
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What will the M&A landscape look like in 2026 for CPGs?
Seasoned deal advisors share the emerging trends shaping valuations, investor expectations, and what founders must do now to stay competitive
How TikTok food trends are inspiring brand innovation and limited-edition flavors
Viral flavors on TikTok are reshaping the food and beverage industry, accelerating product development and redefining how brands connect with consumers
Campbell’s Pokémon play: How the soup brand is winning with videogamers
A limited-edition line of collectible cans and a national sweepstakes helped Campbell’s connect with fans across generations while showcasing the power of gaming partnerships
Maximizing the holiday shopping rush: 5 strategies for food and beverage brands
Five actionable strategies show how brands can navigate shifting shopper behavior, boost engagement and maximize holiday revenue this season
Fruitist continues expanding packaged fresh fruit business with $150 million capital raise
The fresh fruit producer plans to invest in fruit genetics and AI to boost its positioning in the healthy snacking segment
Non-UPF Verified debuts standard for CPG brands
The standard includes ingredient criteria and processing intensity that align with nutrition research and food system realities
Prepare for turbulence: AI, retail media networks and M&A shifts require a new growth playbook
After years of price-driven gains, Acosta’s John Carroll warns the industry must pivot to tech-enabled collaboration to reignite meaningful unit growth
Trendspotting 2026
Crunch, cream, contrast: Texture takes the spotlight in 2026
Forget flavor fatigue – next year will be all about how snacks feel. From crisp layers to creamy centers, texture is fast becoming the biggest lever of indulgence and loyalty
Sugar prices to 5-year low: When will they rise again?
The price of sugar will not stay low forever
Top 5 Christmas confectionery trends 2025
Holidays are coming! Discover the confectionery trends driving festive sales in 2025
Protein, please: NPD with real muscle
Protein’s still flexing hard, but it’s left the gym and hit the grocery aisle
Danone’s east-meets-west strategy for gut health and longevity
Modern science drives Danone’s innovations, yet the company is also looking to ancient traditions around the world to understand how different cultures nurture gut health
Hershey’s convenience-focused launches highlight c-store strategy and shopper insights
Hershey doubles down on the convenience channel with bold flavors, strategic pack sizes and data-driven innovation aimed at capturing Gen Z and driving repeat purchases
News Bites
Gen Z trends, UPF debate & Coca-Cola’s beverage pivot
Younger consumers redefine “healthy,” experts warn UPF rules may backfire and Coca-Cola bets big on protein and zero sugar
Mondelēz’s travel retail playbook: A blueprint for sweets and snacks success
Travel retail is no longer just about luxury - confectionery is taking off. Discover how Mondelēz is turning airports into brand-building playgrounds
AI helps Hovis, Mars and PepsiCo cut factory downtime
From bread lines to snack plants, manufacturers are turning to artificial intelligence to predict breakdowns and keep production running at full speed
Mondelēz rethinks new product development and distribution strategy as US consumers cut back on snacks
The snack giant will expand value offerings, boost innovation in better-for-you products and indulgent items, and refine promotions to reignite growth
Inside discount retailer Lidl US’ recipe for success: Fresh, value and focus
From SKU rationalization to supplier partnerships and front-line empowerment, CEO Joel Rampoldt is reshaping Lidl US’ playbook for sustainable growth and earning consumer loyalty along the way
Staying true while scaling up: The evolution of breakfast bar brand Olyra
After finding early success in the natural channel, Olyra revamped its packaging, flavors and formulation to resonate with mainstream consumers while preserving the ancient Greek roots at the heart of its story
Can wheat be safer without sacrificing taste?
Reduced-allergen wheat could transform baking, letting brands deliver better-for-you products without sacrificing quality or consumer experience
News Bites
From vegan collagen to smart sweeteners: FDA and CPG shifts shape food innovation
FDA accelerates precision fermentation, General Mills refocuses on overlooked consumers and innovators redefine the role of sugar
Ultra-processed food regulation could backfire if paired with public health cuts, experts warn
Reduced funding for nutrition and obesity prevention programs and unintentional consequences of policymakers defining UPFs based just on the NOVA system could erase hard-won health gains and hinder food security
UPF awareness rises but confusion reigns over what’s healthy, Non-GMO Project finds
Consumer concern about UPFs has surged, but understanding still lags far behind, according to new research from the Non-GMO Project
Opinion
The snackdown: Apparently, we forgot what potato chips are made from
Turns out, more than half of us didn’t know chips are made from potatoes – and now food brands are scrambling to remind us what we’re actually eating
General Mills bets big on overlooked consumers to drive next wave of growth
The CPG giant is adapting products, pack sizes and marketing to place aging consumers, GLP-1 users and Hispanic shoppers at the center of its fiscal 2026 plans
What if memories had a flavor…
Mondelēz’s latest State of Snacking report explores how memory and emotion have become the new currency of snacking
Soup-to-Nuts Podcast
Finding comfort in chaos: How food will help consumers cope in 2026
After a year marketed by rising prices, food safety confusion and supply chain fears, ADM predicts consumers in 2026 will gravitate toward nostalgic, sensory-rich foods and beverages that help restore their resilience
News Bites
Lay’s glow-up, food science myths and fermented frontiers
Lay’s gets a new look, nutrition science is getting a reality check and precision fermented ingredients are getting FDA’s nod
Yuka brings aspartame fight to the US
Report calls for ban on ingredient found in thousands of common food and beverage products
Sweeteners in focus
Sugar is no longer ‘benchmark’ for sweetness as consumer preferences shift to blends
Research by Ingredion suggests a paradigm shift toward plant-based and blended sweeteners over sugar, but consumer confusion about what is ‘natural’ and safe could hinder innovation and sugar reduction efforts
Startup Spotlight
Startup Elavi doubles down on high protein brownies – and retail notices
While a national buy from Whole Foods is the dream for many startups, often a ‘no for now’ will bide time and resources to land on more shelves in the future
Most CPG ads miss the mark with video gamer players: Here is how to fix it
CPG marketers can’t afford outdated strategies when it comes to connecting with video game players. Learn what works now in FoodNavigator-USA’s free webinar Fueling Fun: Connecting with Esports Enthusiasts and Everyday Gamers FTW
Lay’s enters ‘a new era’ with its largest brand fresh in nearly a century
The potato chip brand spotlights its ‘humble potato’ and cleaner labels for its global brand refresh
Kerry turns consumer insights into sustainable food solutions
Kerry’s sustainable nutrition spectrum guides CPG brands in reformulating foods that meet evolving consumer expectations for health, sustainability and taste.